While rivals struggle to squeeze more value out of their existing platforms, one bank has increased its share of Asian investment banking despite a radical restructuring. For proving it can do more with less, UBS is IFR Asia’s Bank of the Year.

As Asia’s local banks push for a bigger share of the region’s investment banking business, one stood out for making a success of an audacious acquisition. For delivering on a defined growth strategy, CIMB is IFR Asia’s Domestic Bank of the Year.

China’s state-owned enterprises were at the forefront of Asian financing in 2013, but one managed to position itself as both a solid credit and a growth proposition. For successfully navigating multiple asset classes, China Petrochemical Corp is IFR Asia’s Issuer of the Year.

In a year when Chinese firms accounted for over 30% of all international bonds sold in Asia, China National Offshore Oil Corp stood out as the first PRC issuer to win over investors in the euro market.

A pan-Asian footprint proved important in a year of extreme volatility in many local bond markets in the region and one bank’s focus on cross-border deal-making stood out. For bringing down boundaries and driving innovation, HSBC is IFR Asia’s Domestic Bond House of the Year.

In an industry facing tougher capital requirements, one bank transformed its approach to syndication without missing a beat. For leading key deals and proving its distribution skills, Standard Chartered is IFR Asia’s Loan House of the Year.

Focus Media Holding’s US$1.725bn LBO financing overcame several hurdles to play a crucial role in ensuring the completion of the Nasdaq-listed company’s US$3.7bn buyout – the largest involving a Chinese target – and successfully passed a vital test for the country’s leveraged finance market.

In a choppy year, one bank pioneered new ways of raising equity in markets off the beaten track while still pushing ahead in its traditional strongholds. For its continued dominance, UBS is IFR Asia’s Equity House of the Year.

In a rebounding convertible bond market, one bank retained its lead by running deals in all conditions. For its ability to price deals at the top and bottom of markets, and for issuers in sectors deemed untouchable, JP Morgan is IFR Asia’s Structured Equity House of the Year.

Singapore’s CapitaLand has always had a reputation as a savvy issuer, but the property developer had a standout year with two new convertible bonds and tender offers, both of which had a strong claim to be the Structured Equity Issue of the Year.

Property is one of the most important sectors for Singapore banks when it comes to lending. In a nation that has seen exponential price appreciation for residential developments in the past decade, being able to finance more buildings is a key focus.

A Malaysian issuer, ironically, made the largest contribution to innovation in Singapore’s Islamic finance market this year, when sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional issued the first exchangeable sukuk denominated in Singapore dollars.

China’s acquisition financing market came of age in 2013, with event-driven offshore deals dominating loan market activity during IFR’s review period. Citigroup led that trend, underwriting, structuring and distributing even the most challenging of transactions.

Quality advice paid dividends in a volatile 2013 and HSBC proved adept at guiding borrowers through a volatile market. The bank leveraged on its integrated debt platform to help clients choose between global bonds and syndicated loans, and used its firepower to win leading roles on the biggest event-driven financings.

SBI Capital Markets extended its dominance of the Indian loan market in 2013, offering innovative syndicated financings to clients even as the domestic economy grew at its lowest rate in more than a decade.

Gajah Tunggal’s US$500m five-year non-call three bonds came only four years after it restructured its offshore debt, completing a successful turnaround story and marking its return to the international capital markets.

Loan volume in Singapore hit a respectable US$30bn during the review period, but it was a handful of big-ticket loans and new-money deals to back listings of real estate investment trusts that allowed DBS Bank to shine over its peers.

Siam Commercial Bank led a number of notable offerings that added depth and breadth to Thailand’s maturing bond market. It showed its creativity in designing innovative solutions, and used its network to distribute the biggest deals.

Vingroup’s first high-yield bond was a landmark offering that reopened the offshore bond market for Vietnamese credits. After a prolonged lull in capital-market activity amid years of economic turmoil, the deal came as a vote of confidence in both the company and the country.